ARUKAH GLOBAL - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Treasurer
- Group Controller at Silicon Valley Bank
With previous roles as CPA and Treasurer, Carl is a Group Controller at Silicon Valley Bank in Santa Clara, California where he manages finance operations and reporting for SVB's Strategic Equities portfolio. Carl represents SVB on the bank's Community Reinvestment Committee and the Environment Committee of the Silicon Valley Leadership Group. He is also the Treasurer and a Board Member of Sustainable Silicon Valley where he has served for the last 7 years. Carl was a member of the advisory panel for the AICPA for sustainability reporting, the Sustainability Accounting Standards Board and the International Integrated Reporting Commission.
As a competitive cyclist and (Ironman)triathlete, Carl had the opportunity to serve Team Rwanda as an Assistant Race Director for the Wooden Bike Classic in Kigali, Rwanda. He and his wife, Marlene also have hearts for Ethiopia, as they sponsor 2 children there. They are parents to 2 children, Noah and Joy.
Carl earned a Master's degree in Theology of Culture from Regent College, Vancouver, BC, focusing on international ethics, accountability and transparency. He completed his undergraduate studies at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo with a degree in Business (Accounting) and a minor in English Literature.
Job Titles:
- Vice Chairman Church & Cultural Advisor
Now residing in Silicon Valley with his wife Haimanot and their four children, Damtew brings us great knowledge into his native Ethiopian culture, poverty intervention and child advocacy. He will help us to effectively navigate the many unknowns of establishing strategic, long-term partnerships throughout Ethiopia.
Damtew served as a senior staff member with the child advocacy organization Compassion International, Ethiopia. In his 17 years there, he developed and implemented national training programs for leaders overseeing the care and education over 80,000 children in extreme poverty. Additional roles included Program Facilitation and implementation of Compassion's Leadership Development Program which is designed to raise up young students from poverty into higher education. He was instrumental in the development of child advocacy leaders in both Ethiopia and East Africa. He is very well connected in Ethiopia, and plays a vital role in Arukah Global's development of key relationships with leaders and influencers in the country. Damtew has a gift of insight, and finds great joy in preaching at local Ethiopian churches.
Dr. Sam Earp is former Chairman of the Board of WorldVenture, and was founding president of the National Association of Mission Pastors. Over a 40 year period, he has served several churches in Silicon Valley as Senior/Executive Pastor and Mission Pastor. He currently serves as a Mentor Coach and Spiritual Director for several Silicon Valley pastors and church leaders. Additionally, he is the Development Director of the Near East Organization for Training, Discipleship and Media.
He brings invaluable knowledge in running global nonprofits and serving overseas.
Sam holds a Bachelors degree in Sacred Literature from Ozark Christian College, Masters of Arts in History from Santa Clara University, and received and Masters and Doctorate in Divinity from San Francisco Theological Seminary.
Sam continues to be a pioneer in overseas ministry training and travels internationally several times a year. He is father to 2 - two adult children, Adam and Ashley and husband to his beloved (late)bride of 45 years, Norma.
We are humbled to have him as a key influencer on our team. Sam still enjoys officiating weddings and riding his motorcycle.
Mark Lewis - Founder, President
Mark has been serving with teams in Nazret, Ethiopia annually since 2011. The vision for Arukah Global was conceived after his 3rd trip there in 2013 when he felt compelled to greater involvement than a once-per-year visit. His heart was initially captured while visiting the children he sponsors through Compassion International…then further, through a growing network of Ethiopian leaders and friends who serve the impoverished population at both local and national levels.
He has also worked with teams in the Philippines and Cuba, led a thriving men's ministry at an influential Silicon Valley Church, conceived and facilitated men's conferences, and served as Associate Pastor at Calvary Chapel- Amador in the foothills of California's Sierra Nevada. He also had the privilege of working at Cityteam Ministries; a San Francisco Bay Area-based nonprofit that cares for impoverished families, the homeless and clients going through addiction recovery.
With a passion for developing teams and leaders to serve overseas, he finds great joy cultivating long-term partnerships with Ethiopia-based ministries, schools and NGO's.
Mark guest preaches at churches and universities, and also presents at businesses on the topic of global and local outreach.